Chrysanthemum plant named Volunteer

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named volunteer characterized by its white ray florets and yellow-green anemone disc, compact and freely branching growth habit, 81/2 week response, and by its adaptability to production in 41/2&#34; pots or as a garden mum.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name Volunteer.

Volunteer is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new Chrysanthemum cultivars having thecharacteristics of free branching, compact growth habit, anemone flowertype, clear white ray floret color with yellow-green disc florets, andsuitability for production in 41/2 pots or as a garden mum. Such traitsin combinataion were not present or needed improvement in previouslyavailable commercial cultivars.

Volunteer was originated from a hybridization made in a controlledbreeding program in Westfield-Woking, England by Leonard H. Shoesmith in1980. The male and female parents are unknown at this time. Volunteerwas discovered and selected as one flowering plant within the progeny ofthe stated parentage by Leonard H. Shoesmith in November 1981 in acontrolled environment in Parrish, Fla.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Volunteer was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in February1982 in a controlled environment in Parrish, Fla. by a technicianworking under formulations established and supervised by Leonard H.Shoesmith. Horticultural examination of selected units initiated inApril 1982 has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Volunteer are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Volunteer has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Parrish, Fla. under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Volunteer, which in combination distinguishthis Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Clear white ray florets surrounding a yellow anemone type disc.

2. Approximately 42 ray florets per capitulum.

3. Mature capitulum is 50-55 mm in diameter.

4. Individual ray florets approximately 24 mm long×6 mm wide.

5. 81/2 week flowering response.

6. Compact, freely branching growth habit, suitable for production in41/2" pots or as a garden variety.

7. Anemone disc florets are yellow-green when immature, changing toyellow when mature.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows in perspective view typicalinflorescence and foliage characteristics of Volunteer. The photographis in black and white, with the white ray florets closely correspondingin color to the actual white ray floret color. Several disc florets havebeen colored to depict immature and mature disc floret color.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined atapproximately 2:00 p.m. in September 1986 under fluorescent light atParrish, Fla.

Classification:

Botanical.--Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv Volunteer.

Commercial.--Garden or pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Anemone.

Diameter across face.--50-55 mm.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--White.

Color (upper surface).--White.

Color (under surface).--White.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--Yellow 1B.

Color (immature).--Approximately 154A.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present in anemone disc florets only.

Gynoecium.--Present in all ray and anemone disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--19 cm when grown in a 41/2" pot. Height can differ dependingupon growing conditions, B-Nine applications and scheduling practices.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Ovate with cleft margins.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant namedVolunteer, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterizedby its white ray florets and yellow-green anemone disc, compact andfreely branching growth habit, 81/2 week response, and by itsadaptability to production in 41/2" pots or as a garden mum.